Crossing the Line GIS Activity

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Somalia might break up into two countries. The northwest corner of Somalia known as Somaliland has the potential to split. All of the countries in the Arabian Peninsula, except for Iraq and Jordan, might come together to form the Arab Gulf Union.

Somalia has many different cultural groups and a major group is Somaliland which could break off into two countries, like Sudan did. There is a lot of conflict in Somalia that will lead to Somaliland becoming independent. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, and Kuwait are all very close culturally and ethnically. So naturally they want to form a union together.

The Border between Somaliland and Somalia is a geometric boundary, and cultural boundary. Somaliland values fairness, religious leaders, and more, but Somalia doesn't, so they created a cultural boundary. The Arab Gulf Union has physical boundaries. The majority of the boundary is ocean, and desert.

Somaliland could be affected badly economically because they don't really have a legitimate way of bringing in money. The Arab Gulf Union on the other hand will very likely do well economically because they have a lot of oil and all of those countries combining can bring in a lot of money. They will also be at an advantage because they will have a lot of coast line and not many countries bordering them. Culturally The Arab Gulf Union will be fairly close together as will Somaliland.